The Technical Committee addressed the challenges of goal and performance-based standards; it heard that Lloyd’s Register is ready to reintroduce rules for nuclear propulsion and new rules for ‘stern first’ ice-class ships; and members were provided with an overview of developments at Lloyd’s Register to help the industry manage its environmental performance.

The shipbuilder, shipowner and shipping industry technical experts that comprise LR’s Technical Committee have concluded their annual meeting yesterday. Over two days, committee members heard presentations by shipbuilders and owners on key agenda issues that were then discussed in detail by the committee. Lloyd’s Register’s technical and technology experts provided the committee with presentations on a variety of key issues.

One key issue was the emergence of goal and performance-based standards in international and classification society approaches to supporting safer shipping. Carnival’s Richard Vie presented his views on the philosophy and practicalities of a shift away from prescriptive standards – towards goal or performance based criteria. While Samsung’s Heavy Industry’s C.Y. Kim presented the shipbuilder’s perspective on rule-development priorities.

Dr. Tom Allan, Chairman of the Technical Committee, said: “This has been an outstanding two days of discussion and presentations and demonstrates that Lloyd’s Register is at the forefront of developing practical responses to the challenges of a cleaner, greener future — as required by new regulations, changing approaches to regulation and demands by shipowners and their customers to adopt new technologies such as LNG, fuel cells and nuclear.”

A draft of provisional rules for nuclear propulsion in merchant ships were presented by Lloyd’s Register.

“We are seeing demand from clients for us to help them in understanding how to manage nuclear power in shipping,” said Vince Jenkins, Lloyd’s Register’s Global Marine Risk Advisor. “We have expertise and, therefore, we have developed new rules to help the industry. Alongside LNG, fuel cells and renewables, nuclear propulsion is an important future option for reducing CO2 emissions.”

New approaches to environmental protection were presented to the committee and further details of these, and the support that Lloyd’s Register is providing to industry, will be available in the near future.

Other important technical issues addressed by LR’s experts included systems integration, udates for common structural rules and rules for the classification of stern first ice-class ships.

Lloyd’s Register’s Technical Director, Tim Kent, confirmed the classification society’s focus on maintaining and enhancing its technical leadership.

“Understanding new technology and helping to ensure safety and environmental protection is what we do. Our committee plays a vital role in validating and approving our rules before they are launched. This helps ensure not only that they are relevant and practical but, importantly, that the committee provides us with direction for future technology and rule development.”